ORLANDO — If all else failed against Dwight Howard, Hawks center Jason Collins figured he would mix things up with Orlando’s All-Star center.
“My job is to play a physical ballgame and use my fouls,” Collins said, “and know that we’ve got a lot of guys to throw at him.”
The Hawks immediately had that notion put to the test Saturday night in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoffs series against the Magic.
Collins got in early foul trouble trying to slow Howard. Zaza Pachulia replaced him, and the same happened to him. Next in line was Etan Thomas, who managed to stay out of foul trouble, but was overpowered by Howard.
Eventually the Hawks were forced to use forwards Josh Smith and Josh Powell to guard Howard. Smith picked up his second foul while guarding Howard, and Powell was called for four fouls in 10 minutes while trying to do it.
Fouling Howard to prevent easy baskets can be a sound strategy since he has made only 60 percent of his free throws in his career. But Howard made his first seven attempts.
The Hawks were short one center because coach Larry Drew decided to activate Powell instead of 6-foot-11 Hilton Armstrong.
Collins popular
Collins was a popular request for media interviews in the days leading to the game because of his success guarding Howard during the regular season.
“I haven’t seen this much attention since I was playing in the Finals,” Collins said, referring to his time with the Nets.
Howard seemed to grow irritated at reporters’ questions about Collins’ ability to frustrate him.
“It is what it is,” Howard said. “None of these people who write these articles are out there playing. They don’t know. We are the ones playing.”
“All players are very competitive, especially the great ones,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.
Better rested?
Hawks guard Joe Johnson played more than 300 fewer minutes this season than last. Drew also limited minutes for Johnson and the other starters over the final four games since the Hawks were locked into the No. 5 seed.
The idea was that Hawks regulars would be fresher for the playoffs.
“That’s the plan,” Johnson said before Game 1. “Hopefully it does. Regardless of that, I am ready to play. I just think it’s time that we answer the challenge. We all should be ready.”
Redick returns
Magic reserve guard J.J. Redick returned after missing the final 17 games of the regular season with an abdominal injury.
“We will play him like we normally would off the bench,” Van Gundy said. “When [starter Jason Richardson] goes out, he will go in. How much he plays, he is going to have to figure that out and so am I, and figure out where his conditioning is at.”
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